ANA Issues Strong Response to ICANN, Underscoring Widespread Industry Concerns Regarding Top-level Domain Proposed program
NEW YORK( Aug. 10, 2011) —
"We are not surprised by ICANN's response although disappointed that ICANN chose to defend its process and deny any doubt as to consensus. Rather, ICANN needs to respond to the real concern from the brand owner community. There is no question that this Program will increase brand owners' costs by billions of dollars. We should not be debating if 40 or 45 comment periods were held; instead, ICANN should be justifying its economic analysis regarding the Program against the staggering costs to brands. ANA welcomes further discussions and an opportunity for further economic study to quantify the need for more TLDs and what it will mean for industry and other stakeholders, such as the public interest community who will face the same brand dilution concerns.”
- Bob Liodice, President and CEO, ANA
“Now is not the time for either side to 'dig in its heels' much less defend the process, especially in a depressed economy. ANA has raised real concerns regarding economic losses, brand dilution and resultant privacy / cyber-security harms. In light of our shared goals of a safe and stable global internet, ICANN should return to the negotiating table and work with all concerned parties, including the ANA and its members, to resolve brand owners' legitimate concerns in a manner consistent with ICANN's consensus obligations."
- Doug Wood, ANA’s General Counsel, Reed Smith LLP
About the ANA
The mission of the ANA (Association of National Advertisers) is to drive growth for marketing professionals, brands and businesses, the industry, and humanity. The ANA serves the marketing needs of 20,000 brands by leveraging the 12-point ANA Growth Agenda, which has been endorsed by the Global CMO Growth Council. The ANA’s membership consists of U.S. and international companies, including client-side marketers, nonprofits, fundraisers, and marketing solutions providers (data science and technology companies, ad agencies, publishers, media companies, suppliers, and vendors). The ANA creates Marketing Growth Champions by serving, educating, and advocating for more than 50,000 industry members that collectively invest more than $400 billion in marketing and advertising annually.
Press Contacts:
Luna Newton
CooperKatz & Co. for the ANA
lnewton@cooperkatz.com
917.595.3061
Shoshana Hochdorf
CooperKatz & Co. for the ANA
shochdorf@cooperkatz.com
917.595.3054